The program will bring academia and industry together and create "cross-functional professional teams working in a goal-oriented, milestone-driven manner to convert knowledge into tests, devices, drugs and policies that can benefit patients as quickly as possible," according to a release.

The cancer center already has tens of millions of dollars on hand ready to deploy for the program. President Ronald DePinho said he anticipates donations to increase as a result of the program.

In addition, the number of patients M.D. Anderson sees may increase anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent, he said. The cancer center saw 100,000 patients last year.

"We believe this will inspire many to want to support us," DePinho said. "Houston is a very generous community. Others around the country will want to support something very goal oriented, very action oriented. We anticipate a significant increase in philanthropic funds."

The cancers this program will target are acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, melanoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and triple-negative breast and ovarian cancers — two cancers linked at the molecular level.

DePinho said it is realistic to expect mortality rates for some cancers in the Moon Shots program to decrease by as much as 50 percent.

Bayan Raji covers health care and talent for the Houston Business Journal. For her breaking stories and industry insights, follow her on Twitter.

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